Using Linux lab computers remotely

IT Help

There are two methods for connecting to Linux lab computers. Expand the accordions below to find instructions for your device.

Remote access options

Using SSH

These instructions have been tested on CentOS 7, Ubuntu 18.04, Windows 10, and Mac OSX Mojave.
In order to run specialist software applications (such as matlab, opnet and sage among others) from a PC in one of the two Linux labs A2.02 or A2.03, and be able to display the application on your personal computer, follow the steps related to your operating system. As detailed in the diagram below, connect from your personal computer, through the gateway server, onto one of the machines in the specialist Linux labs. The diagram gives an example of the lab machines - please see appendix for a complete list of lab machines available to connect to.

NB: The lab machines are dual-boot, and automatically boot into Linux overnight, however, if the machine is switched off, or being used during the day by Windows users, you will not be able to connect to that specific machine and you may need to try an alternative machine.

From a Linux device

To connect into the Linux system is a two stage process:

Connect into the gateway server: ssh.ee.port.ac.uk using software for a terminal window
In a terminal window ssh -X onwards to a host machine in one of the specialist Linux Labs (A2.02 / A2.03)

Open a terminal and connect to the gateway server using the following command, substituting username with your login credentials. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@hostname

You will now be able to launch your application from the remote PC, such as Opnet, which will display on your own machine.

Eg. Type in the name of the application you wish to run in the terminal window
example: [ opnet ] or [ firefox ] or [ matlab ] or [ sage ]
You can press the key sequence of CTRL +C to quit if there are any problems

From a Windows device

In order to connect into the Linux system using a Windows based machine you will need to have some extra software which will allow remote access to a Linux X11 window graphics environment. We recommend using the successfully tested graphical application called Xming, along with access software such as Putty.

Install and launch Xming (Xming is a background X window server):

Agree to all the default options, and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.

Install and launch Putty:

Agree to all the default options, and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.

Ensure that X11 forwarding is switched on to allow a display on the client Expand SSH from the menu on the left to show X11 Tick Enable X11 forwarding

Connect to the gateway entry server Select Session from the menu on the left, and type ssh.ee.port.ac.uk in the Host Name field

If this is the first time you are connecting to the gateway server from this machine, you will be prompted to accept a security key fingerprint. Select Yes to this prompt.
Login to the gateway server using your university username and password.

You will now be able to ssh on to a machine in one of the Linux labs A2.02 or A2.03 with the -X options to allow display back to your host.

ssh -X username@hostname [ for example, mouse, rabbit, fox, bode, bell, marconi... ]

E.g. Type in the name of the application you wish to run in the terminal window
example: [ opnet ] or [ firefox ] or [ matlab ] or [ sage ]
You can press the key sequence of CTRL +C to quit if there are any problems

From a macOS device

Install the Xquartz program for X11 display (xquartz is the official X server software for mac.

Agree to all the default options, and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.

Using your preferred editor (we have used vim), edit the ssh_config file is modified to allow X11 forwarding

vim /etc/ssh/ssh_config

XAuthLocation /opt/X11/bin/xauth
ForwardAgent yes
ForwardX11 yes

Launch XQuartz and select Terminal from within XQuartz (you may need to right-click on XQuartz, select Applications, Terminal).

Connect to the gateway server using the following command, substituting username with your login credentials. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@ssh.ee.port.ac.uk

Connect to the lab machine, again substituting username with your login credentials, and hostname with the name of a machine in either A2.02 or A2.03. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@hostname

You will now be able to launch your application from the remote PC, such as Opnet, which will display on your own machine.

APPENDIX

Temporary access has been added for machines in rooms Portland 2.27, Liongate 0.14a and Liongate 0.14b.

A2.02 Hostnames		A2.03 Hostnames			PO 2.27 Hostnames	LG 0.14a Hostnames	LG 0.14b Hostnames
ampere bell bode boole bose coulomb dirac doppler edison euler fermi henry hertz joule laplace marconi maxwell morse napier newton norton ohm planck	siemen tellegen tesla volta watt	bear beaver bison bull camel cheetah chimp chipmunk cougar coyote deer elk fox gazelle gerbil giraffe goat gorilla hippo horse hyena ibex impala	jackal jaguar kanga koala kudu lemur leopard llama lynx marmot meerkat mink mouse mule ocelot okapi otter panda quagga rabbit rhino sheep shrew	squirrel tapir vixen wolf wombat zebra	PO227PC01 PO227PC02 PO227PC03 PO227PC04 PO227PC05 PO227PC06 PO227PC07 PO227PC08 PO227PC09 PO227PC10 PO227PC11 PO227PC12 PO227PC13 PO227PC14 PO227PC15 PO227PC16 PO227PC17 PO227PC18 PO227PC19 PO227PC20 PO227PCLECT	LG014A-PC01 LG014A-PC02 LG014A-PC03 LG014A-PC04 LG014A-PC05 LG014A-PC06 LG014A-PC07 LG014A-PC08 LG014A-PC09 LG014A-PC10 LG014A-PC11 LG014A-PC12 LG014A-PC13 LG014A-PC14 LG014A-PC15 LG014A-PC16 LG014A-PC17 LG014A-PC18 LG014A-PC19 LG014A-PC20 LG014A-PC21 LG014A-PC22 LG014A-PC23 LG014A-PC24 LG014A-PCLECT	LG014B-PC01 LG014B-PC02 LG014B-PC03 LG014B-PC04 LG014B-PC05 LG014B-PC06 LG014B-PC07 LG014B-PC08 LG014B-PC09 LG014B-PC10 LG014B-PC11 LG014B-PC12 LG014B-PC13 LG014B-PC14 LG014B-PC15 LG014B-PC16 LG014B-PC17 LG014B-PC18 LG014B-PC19 LG014B-PC20 LG014B-PC21 LG014B-PC22 LG014B-PC23 LG014B-PC24 LG014B-PC25 LG014B-PC26 LG014B-PC27 LG014B-PC28 LG014B-PC29 LG014B-PC30 LG014B-PC31 LG014B-PC32 LG014B-PC33 LG014B-PC34 LG014B-PC35 LG014B-PC36 LG014B-PC37 LG014B-PC38 LG014B-PC39 LG014B-PC40 LG014B-PC41 LG014B-PC42 LG014B-PC43 LG014B-PC44 LG014B-PC45 LG014B-PC46 LG014B-PC47 LG014B-PC48 LG014B-PCLECT

Using X2Go

These instructions describe how to use X2Go software for a remote graphical desktop connection to the Linux lab computers. This connection will allow you to run specialist software applications such as MATLAB, OPNET and Sage from a PC in one of the Linux labs on your own computer.

This GUI method is an all-in-one facility removing the need to have PuTTy or Xming installed. X2Go offers an easier and faster way to provide remote access to Linux PC’s, along with offering better performance. X2Go supports a multi-platform environment, including Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems.

Hostnames

During the COVID-19 campus closure, extra rooms have been made available to support linux users. For specialised access to the A2.NET Networks lab using this facility, please consult your lecturer.

The following rooms are available, expand the section to locate the hostnames of the computers in each room.

Anglesea 2.02	Anglesea 2.03	Portland 2.27	Lion Gate 0.14A	Lion Gate 0.14B
ampere	bear	PO227PC01	LG014A-PC01	LG014B-PC01
bell	beaver	PO227PC02	LG014A-PC02	LG014B-PC02
bode	bison	PO227PC03	LG014A-PC03	LG014B-PC03
boole	bull	PO227PC04	LG014A-PC04	LG014B-PC04
bose	camel	PO227PC05	LG014A-PC05	LG014B-PC05
coulomb	cheetah	PO227PC06	LG014A-PC06	LG014B-PC06
dirac	chimp	PO227PC07	LG014A-PC07	LG014B-PC07
doppler	chipmunk	PO227PC08	LG014A-PC08	LG014B-PC08
edison	cougar	PO227PC09	LG014A-PC09	LG014B-PC09
euler	coyote	PO227PC10	LG014A-PC10	LG014B-PC10
fermi	deer	PO227PC11	LG014A-PC11	LG014B-PC11
henry	elk	PO227PC12	LG014A-PC12	LG014B-PC12
hertz	fox	PO227PC13	LG014A-PC13	LG014B-PC13
joule	gazelle	PO227PC14	LG014A-PC14	LG014B-PC14
laplace	gerbil	PO227PC15	LG014A-PC15	LG014B-PC15
marconi	giraffe	PO227PC16	LG014A-PC16	LG014B-PC16
maxwell	goat	PO227PC17	LG014A-PC17	LG014B-PC17
morse	gorilla	PO227PC18	LG014A-PC18	LG014B-PC18
napier	hippo	PO227PC19	LG014A-PC19	LG014B-PC19
newton	horse	PO227PC20	LG014A-PC20	LG014B-PC20
norton	hyena		LG014A-PC21	LG014B-PC21
ohm	ibex		LG014A-PC22	LG014B-PC22
planck	impala		LG014A-PC23	LG014B-PC23
siemen	jackal		LG014A-PC24	LG014B-PC24
tellegen	jaguar			LG014B-PC25
tesla	kanga			LG014B-PC26
volta	koala			LG014B-PC27
watt	kudu			LG014B-PC28
	lemur			LG014B-PC29
	leopard			LG014B-PC30
	llama			LG014B-PC31
	lynx			LG014B-PC32
	marmot			LG014B-PC33
	meerkat			LG014B-PC34
	mink			LG014B-PC35
	mouse			LG014B-PC36
	mule			LG014B-PC37
	ocelot			LG014B-PC38
	okapi			LG014B-PC39
	otter			LG014B-PC40
	panda			LG014B-PC41
	quagga			LG014B-PC42
	rabbit			LG014B-PC43
	rhino			LG014B-PC44
	sheep			LG014B-PC45
	shrew			LG014B-PC46
	squirrel			LG014B-PC47
	tapir			LG014B-PC48
	vixen
	wolf
	wombat
	zebra

Centos 7.5

Install the epel-release repository:
yum install -y epel-release
Install the X2go packages:
yum install -y x2goclient x2goserver-xsession
Run X2Go from the Applications menu Internet X2Go Client (or run from terminal x2goclient).
Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
- Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
- Host: hostname.ee.port.ac.uk where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section Hostnames above.
- Login: your University account username e.g. up874068.
- Session type: MATE
The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a enw profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
Double click the profile to begin the session.
Enter your University account password and click OK.
The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.

Ubuntu 18.04

Install X2go package:
sudo apt install -y x2goclient
Run X2Go from the Applications menu (or run from terminal x2goclient).
Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
- Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
- Host: hostname.ee.port.ac.uk where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section Hostnames above.
- Login: your University account username e.g. up874068.
- Session type: MATE
The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a enw profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
Double click the profile to begin the session.
Enter your University account password and click OK.
The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.

Windows

Download the X2Go client .exe file for Windows from https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php.
The download should begin. Install the download by clicking the downloaded .exe file. If you are not able to install from the browser, you can find the file in your Downloads folder.
If you have User Account Control enabled, accept the install prompt by clicking Yes.
Keep all default settings during installation, pressing Next on each window to progress to the next step.
Click Finish to complete the install.
If the application does not launch automatically, run the X2Go application from the Start menu or double click on the X2Go icon on the Desktop.
Windows Defender Firewall may blocks some features, click Allow Access to allow the features through your firewall. On the prompt for sshd we recommend you tick the first two options.
Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
- Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
- Host: hostname.ee.port.ac.uk where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section Hostnames above.
- Login: your University account username e.g. up874068.
- Session type: MATE
The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a new profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
Double click the profile to begin the session.
Enter your University account password and click OK.
The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
You may get a request to allow X2Go through your firewall, select Allow Access.
Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.

macOS

Download the X2Go client for Mac from https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php.
The download should begin, if you are prompted with a message about downloading from wiki.x2go.org click Allow
Install the application by clicking the download from the Dock. If you are not able to install from the Dock, you can find the file in your Downloads folder.
Install the Application by dragging the x2goclient to the Applications directory.
The first time you open the application you will need to give it permission to run. Press Ctrl and right click the x2goclient from the Applications directory to show the advanced menu then choose Open.
Click Open to continue opening the application, even though the developer has not been verified. The next time you open the app, you can launch it in the normal way as there will be no further prompts.
Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
- Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
- Host: hostname where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section Hostnames above.
- Login: your University account username e.g. up874068.
- Session type: MATE
The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a enw profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
Double click the profile to begin the session.
Enter your University account password and click OK.
The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
If you do not have XQuartz installed, you will get a prompt telling you it is required to continue. Please install XQuartz then log out and back in again then connect to the session again.
Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.